Benfica defeated Sporting 5-0 yesterday and secured qualification for the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup in women’s football. It is a derby that will go down in history, because in Estádio da Luz one of the great objectives was fulfilled, as the attendance record in official matches in Portugal was broken, with the presence of 15,032 spectators in the stands, more than the previous maximum achieved between women’s teams on May 8, 2022, on the same podium and with the same rivals on the field, when 14,221 people attended.
The game was also marked by a great moment of fair play as the Benfica and Sporting medical teams joined forces to help a fan who was feeling unwell in the stands, leading to referee Catarina Campos showing the white card to both teams showed.
In addition, the game on the field was marked by the great superiority of Benfica, which means victories in all games played in the domestic leagues. The two-time national champion opened the score in the 15th minute through striker Jéssica Silva, who eventually scored twice three minutes later. In a one-sided first half, Brazil’s Ana Vitória scored the third goal (38″) before the break and also scored twice at the restart (52″). The result was closed by the Nigerian Christy Ucheibe (76″).
In addition to the attendance record in women’s football, this first derby in Portuguese Cup history also saw the most unequal result in the clashes between Benfica and Sporting, which began in 2019. The 5-0 in favor of the reds surpassed the 5-1 the Lionesses won last season, in Alcochete, in a game that counted for the championship. This was in fact the 14th duel between the eternal rivals, with the reds now having eight wins to five for the sportinguistas, with only one draw.
It should be noted that the benfiquistas now face Famalicão in the semi-finals, who won and defeated Damaiense 2-0 yesterday, while in the other match Sp. Braga then won 1-0 against Clube Albergaria, now waiting for the opponent, who will leave this afternoon’s game between Racing Power and Amora.
Jessica comforts rivals
At the end of the game, Benfica coach Filipa Patão stressed that her team has “evolved a lot” and “has gained great maturity in these big games”. In this sense, he recalled that his team “didn’t let Sporting play in the first half” and that after the break he “went to manage the game”. “In the end we extended the advantage because we were competent, despite losing some goals due to lack of concentration,” he added, assuming that the goal is “to win the Portuguese Cup and give the club all the trophies in dispute “. Jéssica Silva, in turn, said she was “very happy” with the win and for the record and left a word to Sporting: “I want to leave you a word of encouragement, because we are growing together and we must unite to be more competitive .”
On the leonine side, coach Mariana Cabral, who was suspended during the match, was replaced in the flash interview by assistant Pedro Alegria, who considered the opponent “more effective and competent”. “We let Benfica play the way they wanted, but we promise to give a different answer next Wednesday,” he said, in an allusion to another derby, which now counts for the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, at home to the red.
Source: DN
